Tap clamp



March 21, 1939. R R. PITTMAN ET AL 2,151,524

T'AP CLAMP Filed June 10, 1938 INVENTORS @4 1 G. Zita...

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 2,151,524-

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE TAP CLAlVIP Ralph R. Pittman and Carroll H. Walsh, Pine Bluif, Ark.

Application June 10, 1938, Serial No. 212,943

3 Claims. (Cl. 173-273) This invention relates generally to devices for positioned above the body portion ID in a conelectrically connecting conductors, and particuvenient location for use in hooking the assembly larily to socalled hot line clamps employed in over a conductor I4, by means of a switch stick connecting a tap wire to an energized high voltor other suitable tool. After the assembly is in 5 age conductor. the hooked position with the tap wire I8 en- 5 Among the objects of the present invention may gaging the conductor I4 at two spaced points be noted the provision of means for clamping a therealong, the eye I2 is rotated to urge the tap wire in direct engagement with a conductor, shoe I3 against the conductor I4. thereby avoiding the use of the clamp body as It may be observed that the organization just 10 a conductor, and also the use of a connecting described makes possible the omission of two ele- 10 device for attaching the tap wire to the body of ments commonly found on clamps for this purthe clamp. pose; first, an eye integral with the body portion Another object is the provision of means for at the upper end thereof, and second, a device combining the tap wire with the clamp so that for connecting the p wire to t y p n 5 the tap wire may be formed into an eye positioned of the clamp. at the top of the clamp for use in applying the It will also be apparent that the body portion clamp to and removing the clamp from the mm of the clamp is not interposed in series circuit nected conductor. relation with the tap wire, and that therefore it These and other objects will appear as the demay be constructed of any inexpensive material 28 scription proceeds, and the scope of the invention having the desired mechanical strength without will be set forth in the appended claims. regard to the matter of electrical conductivity.

In the drawing, Fig, 1 is a side elevational view Since the shoe I3 is arranged to hold the conof the invention, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary secd'uctor I4 in tight engagement with two points tional view along the line II-II of Fig. 1. along the tap wire I8, a. lower resistance con- Referring in detail to the drawing, a hollow nection may be provided than is possible with the body portion In having an opening in one side use of fewer contact points between the conductor thereof is provided with an inverted V-shaped and the tap wire, or with arrangements having upper portion I5. A rotatively movable member a greater number of contact points in series II extends through and threadedly engages a circuit relation with the tap wire.

horizontally extending portion of the body por- From the above descript o it W l be Seen t at 30 tion I0, and is provided with an eye I2 for conwe provide a simple, efiective and easily and invenient manipulation. The upper end of the e p s y Constructed l pmember II is provided with a shoe I3, which is It will be understood that the drawing and devertically movable with th emb ll t d scription herein are intended as illustrative rather and away from th holl of th V-shaped porthan limiting, also that various modifications of 3*; tion l5, and along the body portio [0, our invention may be made without departing A pair of openings I6 and I1, having their axes from the principles of the invention, and our inpositioned in intersecting planes which are sub- Ventien to be limited enly as is necessitated y stantially normal with respect to each other, exthe claims and the prior 40 tend through the body portion I0 along the inside We claim, as our invention: 40 surface of the respective legs of the V-shaped 1. In a clamp for connecting a tap wire to an portion I5. The openings I 6 and I1 are so poelectrical conductor, a body portion having an sitioned that a tap wire threaded therethrough inverted V-shaped hollow at the upper end therehas portions thereof extending along the inside of, a clamping shoe movable along said body porsurface of the respective legs of the V-shaped tion, adjustable means for moving said shoe to- 45 portion I5, and positioned within the hollow of ward said hollow to clamp the conductor between the V. said body portion and said shoe, and holding In applying the clamp, a tap wire I8 is first means formed in said body portion for maintainpassed upwardly throu the Opening nd ing said tap wire in physical engagement with the end thereof th passed d a d y ro said conductor, said holding means comprising the opening I1, and finally the end portion 20 a lower opening of circular cross-section exanchored by being bent back upwardly over the tending upwardly through said body portion in a outwardly extending portion of the body portion direction substantially parallel to one leg of said I0. Such an operation results in the formation inverted V-shaped hollow to the lower extremity 5 of a loop I9 in the tap wire I8, the loop 19 being of one leg thereof, a groove of substantially semicircular cross-section extending longitudinally along the inner surface of said one leg and merging with said lower opening, and an upper opening of substantially circular cross-section extending from the juncture of the legs of said V- shaped hollow in axial alignment with said lower opening, said tap wire extending upwardly into said body portion through said lower opening and emerging from said body portion through said upper opening, that portion of said tap wire between the lower and upper openings extending along said semi-circular groove.

2. In a clamp for connecting a tap wire to a conductor, a body portion having an inverted V- shaped hollow at the upper end thereof, a clamping shoe movable along said body portion, adjustable means for moving said shoe toward said hollow to clamp the conductor between said body portion and said shoe, and holding means within said body portion for maintaining said tap wire in direct physical engagement with said conductor, said holding means comprising a pair of laterally spaced openings extending upwardly through said body portion along the legs of said inverted V-shaped hollow and in communication therewith, said openings lying in parallel planes which are normal to the axis of said conductor and in intersecting planes which are parallel to the axis of said conductor.

3. In a clamp for connecting a tap wire to a conductor, a body portion having an inverted V- shaped hollow at the upper end thereof, a clamping shoe movable along said body portion, adjustable means for moving said shoe toward said hollow to clamp the conductor between said body portion and said shoe, and holding means within said body portion for maintaining said tap wire in direct physical engagement with said conductor, said holding means comprising a pair of laterally spaced openings extending upwardly through said body portion along the legs of said inverted V-shaped hollow and in communication therewith, said openings lying in parallel planes which are normal to the axis of said conductor and in intersecting planes which are parallel to the axis of said conductor, said tap wire extending first upwardly through one of said openings and then downwardly through the other of said openings to thereby form a loop above said body portion for cooperating with a manipulating tool.

RALPH R. PITTMAN. CARROLL H. WALSH. 

